Armored Vehicles

Boxer

Also known as
  • GTK Boxer
  • Boxer MRAV
  • MRAV
  • Boxer MIV
  • Boxer RCT 30

Boxer is a German-Dutch modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family managed through OCCAR and ARTEC, built around a common protected drive module and interchangeable mission modules. Its documented roles now range from troop transport, command, ambulance, and cargo vehicles to RCT 30 infantry fighting vehicles, RCH 155 artillery, Skyranger air defence, and MBDA's surface-launched Brimstone integration.

Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored Vehicles
Image source: File:GTK Boxer side.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Germany / Netherlands
Built by
ARTEC GmbH
Type
Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family
Service note
Series production from 2006 onward
Designer
ARTEC GmbH
Designed
Development contract in 1999; Netherlands joined as a full partner in 2001
Unit cost
About £5.4 million per vehicle (2019 UK contract average)
Produced
Series production from 2006 onward
Number built
More than 1,300 Boxer vehicles on OCCAR contract; Rheinmetall reports around 2,000 vehicles under contract worldwide

Specifications

Crew
3 + up to 8 dismounts
Weight
Up to 38.5 t
Mobility
More than 100 km/h road speed; more than 1,000 km range
Protection
Modular protection package for ballistic, mine, and IED threats
Dimensions
7.93 m long; 2.99 m wide; 2.38 m high
Modularity
Common 8x8 drive module with exchangeable mission module; OCCAR says mission-module exchange can take less than 1 hour
Modular Mission Architecture

Boxer's core design separates the protected drive module from mission modules, so the same vehicle family can carry troop, command, medical, cargo, artillery, air-defence, and missile-launch roles.

Drive module

Common 8x8 protected mobility base across the family.

Mission module

Role-specific module for transport, command, ambulance, cargo, IFV, artillery, air defence, or launcher tasks.

Growth path

OCCAR and ARTEC describe continued development of additional mission modules and advanced variants.

Variants

Boxer variants share a common protected drive module; the mission module supplies the role-specific troop, command, medical, cargo, fire-support, air-defence, or missile-launch capability.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Armoured Personnel CarrierProtected infantry transport

ARTEC lists the APC as the core infantry transport branch; German APCs were among the Boxer variants operating in northern Afghanistan.

Sources: ARTEC Boxer vehicles, ARTEC Boxer Afghanistan deployment

Command PostCommand-and-control mission module

ARTEC describes the command-post module as a Boxer role for battlefield command, multinational interoperability, and tactical communications.

Sources: ARTEC Boxer vehicles

AmbulanceProtected medical treatment and evacuation

The Boxer ambulance module provides protected preclinical treatment and was one of the German variants deployed to Afghanistan.

Sources: ARTEC Boxer vehicles, ARTEC Boxer Afghanistan deployment

Cargo / C2 VehiclesArmoured resupply and command-support transport

ARTEC describes cargo and C2 vehicles as protected mission modules for distributing supplies and supporting deployed units.

Sources: ARTEC Boxer vehicles

RCT 30 IFV mission moduleWheeled infantry fighting vehicle

Rheinmetall describes the RCT 30 variant as a Boxer fitted with the Puma-derived unmanned 30 mm turret; Germany lists AiTO30 FDC RCT-30 vehicles for Ukraine.

Sources: Rheinmetall Boxer overview, German military support for Ukraine

Boxer CRVCombat reconnaissance vehicle

Rheinmetall identifies the Australian Land 400 Phase 2 Boxer CRV as a Lance2-equipped reconnaissance variant.

Sources: Rheinmetall Boxer overview

Artillery mission module155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer

KNDS describes RCH 155 as an automated 155 mm artillery module on the Boxer chassis; Germany lists 54 for Ukraine in planning or execution.

Sources: KNDS RCH 155 Boxer chassis, German military support for Ukraine

Skyranger 30/35 air-defence moduleMobile air-defence vehicle

Rheinmetall describes Boxer Skyranger as a highly mobile air-defence configuration for countering aerial threats, especially UAVs.

Sources: Rheinmetall Boxer overview

Launchable Missiles

MBDA describes a surface-launched Brimstone configuration built around the Boxer drive module.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Brimstone, Anti-tank guided missile, MunitionsBrimstoneSurface-launched anti-tank guided missile

MBDA and RBSL describe a dedicated surface-launched Brimstone mission module that uses the Boxer drive module without modification.

Sources: Boxer on Brimstone datasheet, RBSL Brimstone Overwatch Mission Module

Timeline

Boxer Key Events

  1. Afghanistan deployment expands

    German Boxer ambulance vehicles deployed to Afghanistan in December 2012, joining APC and command-post variants in northern Afghanistan by January 2013.

    Sources: ARTEC Boxer Afghanistan deployment

  2. Germany orders Boxer Skyranger 30

    Rheinmetall announced a Bundeswehr order for Boxer-based Skyranger 30 mobile air-defence vehicles, including a prototype and 18 production vehicles.

    Sources: Rheinmetall Boxer Skyranger 30 order

  3. First RCH 155 handed to Ukraine

    Germany handed Ukraine its first RCH 155, a Boxer-drive-module artillery system, at KNDS in Kassel.

    Sources: BMVg first RCH 155 handover to Ukraine

  4. Boxer-family systems listed for Ukraine

    Germany's archived Ukraine-support list placed AiTO30 FDC RCT-30 vehicles and 54 RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled howitzers in planning or execution for Ukraine.

    Sources: German military support for Ukraine

Media

Boxer Images

Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: File:Boxer DVD.jpg
Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: File:GTK Boxer Chassis.jpg
Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored Vehicles - view 3
Source: File:Boxer Mission Module dismounted1.jpg
Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored Vehicles - view 4
Source: File:KMW-RCH155-01.jpg
Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored Vehicles - view 5
Source: File:Boxer Skyranger 30 left side at ILA-2024.jpg
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Sources

OCCAR Boxer programme overviewPublisher: OCCAR | Note: Supports Boxer's multinational programme background, current participating armies, and broader service context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Artec Boxer brochurePublisher: ARTEC | Note: Supports Boxer specifications, mission-module layout, protection, mobility, and manufacturer background. | Accessed: 2026-07-01ARTEC Boxer vehiclesPublisher: ARTEC GmbH | Note: Supports Boxer's drive-module and mission-module architecture and variant families. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Rheinmetall Boxer overviewPublisher: Rheinmetall | Note: Supports Boxer variant families including RCT 30, CRV, Skyranger, modularity, service context, and manufacturer background. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Boxer UK contract costPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports the 2019 UK Boxer contract value for 523 vehicles; used here as an approximate average vehicle cost. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Boxer on Brimstone datasheetPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports Boxer as a dedicated surface-launched Brimstone launch platform and the no-modification-to-drive-module claim. | Accessed: 2026-07-01RBSL Brimstone Overwatch Mission ModulePublisher: Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land | Note: Supports the Brimstone Overwatch Mission Module concept for Boxer and the unchanged drive-module relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-01ARTEC Boxer Afghanistan deploymentPublisher: ARTEC GmbH | Note: Supports conflictUsage:2001 War in Afghanistan by documenting German Boxer ambulance, APC, and command-post variants operating in northern Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-01German military support for UkrainePublisher: Federal Government of Germany | Note: Supports conflictUsage:2014 Russia-Ukraine War by listing Germany-financed AiTO30 FDC vehicles and RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine in planning or execution. | Accessed: 2026-07-01BMVg first RCH 155 handover to UkrainePublisher: German Federal Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports conflictUsage:2014 Russia-Ukraine War by documenting the first RCH 155 handover to Ukraine and identifying the system as combining the GTK Boxer drive module with the PzH 2000 weapon system. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Hartpunkt Ukraine Boxer RCT30 reportPublisher: Hartpunkt | Note: Supports conflictUsage:2014 Russia-Ukraine War by identifying the AiTO30 FDC/RCT30 systems for Ukraine as Boxer-based vehicles. | Accessed: 2026-07-01KNDS RCH 155 Boxer chassisPublisher: KNDS | Note: Supports the RCH 155 relationship to the Boxer chassis and RCH 155 specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-01TWZ Ukraine RCH 155 and Boxer reportPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports conflictUsage:2014 Russia-Ukraine War by reporting the first Ukraine RCH 155 handover, the Boxer chassis connection, and expected Boxer RCT30 vehicles for Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Rheinmetall Boxer Skyranger 30 orderPublisher: Rheinmetall | Note: Supports Boxer-based Skyranger 30 air-defence configuration and German order context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:GTK Boxer side.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance and licensing for a Boxer vehicle photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:Boxer DVD.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing for a Boxer vehicle photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:GTK Boxer Chassis.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing for a Boxer drive-module photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:Boxer Mission Module dismounted1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing for a dismounted Boxer mission-module photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:KMW-RCH155-01.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing for a Boxer-based RCH 155 photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:Boxer Skyranger 30 left side at ILA-2024.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing for a Boxer Skyranger 30 photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01